Threat leads to meth lab bust in Coolville

August 17, 2013

COOLVILLE - A response by the Athens County Sheriff's Office to a potential domestic dispute led to the discovery of a methamphetamine lab, authorities said.

Deputies were called to a residence Wednesday on Frost Hill Road in Coolville after a woman called 911 saying her husband had threatened to kill her with a shotgun, Sheriff Patrick Kelly said in a press release Thursday.

According to the report, the unnamed wife and her husband, 39-year-old Brown Salyers, had been staying at the residence of Jerry Goff on Frost Hill Road. Salyers and his wife argued, then Salyers went upstairs to retrieve a .410 gauge shotgun, loaded it, and told his wife to call her mother to pick up their grandchild. Salyers allegedly told his wife he was going to kill her, then went upstairs to retrieve something else. When he did, his wife left the residence and called 911.

According to the report the wife was able to meet deputies away from the house. She told deputies she believed that Goff had cut Brown's thumb with a machete. Deputies entered the residence to locate Salyers. Salyers had fled into the woods and at the time of the report was not located.

While searching the residence, deputies noticed a strong chemical smell. In the far right room deputies found several mason jars with a clear liquid in them lying on the floor and several bottles with plastic tubing coming out of their tops which appeared to be gas generators for a meth lab.

The Narcotics Enforcement Team was notified and a search warrant was obtained and executed. NET Detectives Jim Heater and Doug Crites arrived and were assisted by the local fire department in dismantling and neutralizing the lab. Numerous bottles of meth were seized.

No arrests have been made.

Kelly said Friday his office would file charges but did not have a time table for the filing. Kelly said since a child was in the home at the time the meth lab was discovered, more adults may face charges stemming from the incident.

"We will probably be looking at more than one person when we file charges," he said.

Kelly said officials believe Salyers, a Parkersburg resident, has fled back home. Kelly said arrest warrants will be sworn out once charges are brought to the grand jury.